The BGSU hockey team will take the ice at home this Friday and in Kalamazoo on Saturday, as they attempt to get back to .500 in the early goings of the season. 

So far, BG’s lone win came in the season-opener in Pittsburgh, where the Falcons defeated Robert Morris 3-0.

Since then? It’s not been so hot on the ice for the orange and brown, who have lost three straight.

But the good news is really two-fold: BG is back on the home ice, and, effective immediately, head coach Ty Eigner has been reinstated with the team following a month-long criminal investigation into alleged off-campus hazing allegations, which came back with no criminal activity in an announcement by BGSU yesterday.

So for the team, Eigner, and the fans, while the entire mess is not cleaned up yet, many can breathe a bit easier and just focus on what the community actually wants- the game.

But here’s the problem- the Falcons are taking on the #9 team in the country, the Western Michigan Broncos.

Oh boy.

The Broncos have played only two games this year, recording a 6-4 win and a 3-3 tie against fellow CCHA opponent Ferris State Bulldogs.

WMU in those two games though have combined for nine goals and 18 points, which is more goals than BG has in four games so far (six). 

So yeah, the Broncos have some firepower, and when it comes time for puck drop at 7:07 Friday night, there are going to be four key players for Falcon fans to keep their eyes on.

Here’s a breakdown:

 #9 Luke Grainger 

Grainger is a key forward for a Bronco offense that has been electric so far. The captain tallied two goals and two assists in the first game against Ferris State and three assists in the second game. At 5’10 and 180 lbs., he is light and quick skater with great distributing skills. 

In his three previous years with Western Michigan, he scored an increasing seven points, 15 points, and 32 points, including playing every game in the last two years. He has marked significant improvement every year in Kalamazoo, finishing last year with 12 goals, 20 assists, a .200 shot percentage, 14 blocks, a +18 +/-, and only six penalty minutes. 

#31 Cameron Rowe 

Rowe was the go-to goalie last year, starting 37 out of 39 games. He allowed 92 goals in 884 saves, recording a .906 save percentage with three shutouts. With the junior in the net, the Broncos went 22-14-1 and 15-8-1 in the conference, leading Western to the second seed in the NCHC quarterfinals. 

It has been a rocky start for the senior. He has allowed seven goals (two in power plays) in 52 saves, good for a .881 save percentage. However, Ferris State is another offensively proven team and these statistics might be tarnished by Western Michigan’s limited competition so far. 

#37 Dylan Wendt 

Wendt is a junior in his third year with the team. In his first year, the forward played 34 games on the third line, scoring only three points, and tallying 22 shots. Last year he made a step up, scoring eight goals with a pair of game winners and 14 assists. He is a large forward, standing at 6’1 and 190 pounds, and scores most of his points just in front of the goalie.  

He has surpassed his first-year statistics already and is near a quarter of last year’s statistics with two goals and four assists with a +3 +/- in only two games.  

#29 Ethan Phillips 

Phillips is one of the more experienced hockey players on this roster. In the last four years, Phillips was the forward for Boston University where in the final year of his four-year he scored 11 points in four goals and seven assists. As a grad student this year, he has tied his season-high in goals with four on only five total shots. He is another of the smaller forwards, only 5’10 and 165 pounds, but athletic and lightning-fast with good puck skills and a quick draw. 

Needless to say, the Falcons have their work cut out for them. Not only are they highly skilled and offensively dominant, but the Broncos are also one of the largest teams in the nation. Western Michigan has a roster with 17 players 6’1 or above as well as 17 players 190 pounds or heavier. BGSU is quite a margin smaller, with only 11 players at 6’1 or over, and 10 at 190 pounds or heavier, combined with a defense that has struggled to get going early in this season. 

The Falcons look to hand the Broncos their first loss tonight/tomorrow, with tonight’s game at Slater Family Ice Arena. Puck drop is at 7:07 p.m., and then Saturday, the teams travel to Kalamazoo for a 6 p.m. puck drop. 

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